Alban Gerhardt

World-acclaimed German cellist Alban Gerhardt told the Philippine Daily Inquirer he is already excited about his Philippine debut next week (September 15-16 at CCP main theater) with celebrated Filipino pianist Cecile Licad.

“I am excited to visit the country of my friend, Cecile (Licad) whose musicianship I love above anybody else,” Gerhardt said in an exclusive interview. “I know how big a star she is in the Philippines and I am very much looking forward to face such an enthusiastic audience with such excellent taste.”

Described by the Washington Post as “a remarkable musician and thinker” and “absolutely at home in the most strenuous modern scores,” Gerhardt said his musical partnership with Licad has been an “incredible journey” for him from being a stubborn, rather small-minded typical “German” musician to being much more open, spontaneous and flexible especially in the approach to Brahms or Beethoven.

Said he: ”Cecile (Licad) has taught me how to look beyond what is ‘right’ or ‘wrong’, purely by her playing, not by trying to convince me eloquently.”

In one recital at the Hürther Schlosskonzerte near Cologne, a German critic gushed at the Gerhardt-Licad performance of Beethoven’s A Major Sonata thus: "For the third time in a row the thirty year old cellist fascinated again with his superior performance and his extraordinary temperament.He and his Filipina pianist (Licad) proved to be a very homogenous duo. He was playing everything by heart while Licad gave us an extra performance to her virtuoso piano playing with her facial expressions and body language which made even pure watching a pleasure.The Beethoven sonata is the absolute climax of this intense music experience.Every movement itself a treasure, everything was not only perfectly executed, but with fire and very closely shaped.”

Gerhardt's cello playing has been described by the New York Times as “bold, technically resourceful and rhythmically incisive.”

What to him constitute musical rapport from the point of view of a performer?
Gerhardt pointed out: “For me a good musical rapport between two musicians means that both speak the language of music, both understand music on a very deep level and they can play together without having to talk about it too much. They understand each other without the benefit of the spoken words. Of course they do rehearse, but in the performance, they might do things quite differently to what they have done in rehearsal. In other words, they allow themselves to being completely spontaneous without having to give obvious signs to each other but by just simply listening to what the other is doing and reacting to each other.”

After the cello recital on September 15, Gerhardt will debut with the Philippine Philharmonic as soloist in Shostakovich’s Cello Concerto No. 1 under Filipino conductor Oscar Yatco on September 16.

When told that Filipino audiences were looking forward to the Rococo Variations and were sharply surprised that he was instead playing the Shostakovich concerto which was never heard in Manila, the cellist said that the Shostakovich opus – contrary to impressions -- is actually a crowd-pleaser.

He explained: “Shostakovich’s music is unique and strong, but as much as I love the composer, I would say it is not the most complicated music to understand. One can understand him very easily on an emotional level, not too intellectual, but it's pure soul and emotion he is talking about. The middle movements are especially gorgeous, the third being a hauntingly gorgeous slow movement with a big climax and two longing themes, the 4th a big solo-cadenza which brings in all themes from the previous movements, highly virtuosic while expressive. The outer movements have very strong character, sarcastic and bitter, but great fire and passion involved. I think nobody will regret not being able to hear the Rococo Variations which are lovely, but by far not as exciting as the Shostakovich concerto.”

Gerhardt debuted with Berlin Philharmonic as soloist in Rococo Variations under Semyon Bychkov.

In one performance of the same Tschaikovsky piece with the London Philharmonic, a critic from The Independent concluded:”Gerhard is a highly refined soloist, who has all the skills of a virtuoso. The audience was able to enjoy a gripping performance of Tchaikovsky's Rococco Variations, and they shared appreciation with the members of the Berlin Philharmonic orchestra who applauded their young soloist enthusiastically.”

What does he try to achieve in any performance?

Gerhardt said that – among other things – he always tries to create the piece in front of an audience. “Even if the piece is familiar, I try very hard to make it sound new and exciting as though it is the first time I have ever played it.At the same time, I try to be as truthful as possible to my own feelings as well as to the music. I absolutely hate any kind of ‘tricks’ in music -- actually in anything in life. I like to see things as real as possible and I want honesty everywhere as well as in any performance.”

In a special message to the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Gerhardt exhorted Filipinos to support music in the country as well as listen to concerts. “I think everyone should inspire the youngsters to learn an instrument. A society in which the young people are all playing video- and computer-games and only listen to the brain-cell-killing music being played at clubs is a society in grave danger.”

(Alban Gerhardt will be heard in a recital with Cecile Licad September 15, 8 p.m. and with the Philippine Philharmonic on September 16, 8 p.m. at the CCP main theater. Proceeds of the concert will go to the special projects of the Family Planning Organization of the Philippines.Only last two rows available as of this date in orchestra section on both nights. Balcony 1 section sold out.Only a few tickets at balcony 2 section available as of September 4, 2009. All aisle seats sold out. For remaining tickets, please call 9007023 or cell 09065104270)